Should I buy new axles or just the cv (or u) joints?

[protegechris]

First post here, been at clubprotege.com for about 3 years, I drive a 92 Protege DX.
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I've got the infamous clicking, but it's been going on for 3 years and lately it's gotten terrible, to the point of you being able to feel it in the car, if you turn at ALL, even slightly, it pops terribly.

I am on a very limited budget right now, so I'm wondering should I buy new axles or just the joints/boots for them?

I'm doing the BP swap in 3 months, and I wanted to upgrade to the LX tranny but I don't think my current axles will make it another 3 months.

Any suggestions on where I should buy these, and what I should buy?

 

[SDprotege]

just get the cv's

 

[sweetcat055]

i had the same noise with my 95 pro...and had a torn cv boot and had to have 2 new mounts put on since one of them practiculy fell out when he was starting to take off the axle. In the long run it would be cheaper to replace just the whole cv axle because of the labor costs of having to go back later to have more work done if your just gonna replace the cv joints, as for the cost of it to be done thats another thing. I have someone i can trust to do the work, i don't trust mechanics for s*** and now my car is free of that popping noise. (yippy)

 

[Toyo Kogyo]

The boot is a much cheaper route to go but if they have been torn for any amount of time I'd replace the whole units as driving with a torn boot will cause dirt and grime to get inside the axle which scars the surface.

If you are a confident mechanic you can easily pull them apart, clean them well, re-grease and reassemble with new boots.

Its takes more time but also saves some cash. There is nothing wrong with just replacing the boots.

 

[sweetcat055]

I agree...

I agree with just replacing the cv boots since it would be cheaper and you can do it yourself, but if you've been having that clicking noise for three years it might be time to consider replacing the axles, only if they are messed up though. You don't want to completely mess up your axles to the point where your car isn't working like it should be. I had to replace mine since i had that clicking noise for longer then three years, but then again i also need to replace my springs too just never had the money, but it's worth it to keep your car working right...

The boot is a much cheaper route to go but if they have been torn for any amount of time I'd replace the whole units as driving with a torn boot will cause dirt and grime to get inside the axle which scars the surface.

If you are a confident mechanic you can easily pull them apart, clean them well, re-grease and reassemble with new boots.

Its takes more time but also saves some cash. There is nothing wrong with just replacing the boots.

 

[Salmon_Rob]

id say replace them, then say they didnt work well and take them back when you need your bp axles

 

[davens]

I just did this shopping for my old DX...

Where to buy:
http://www.rockauto.com/
$48 ea if you send a core return
$78 ea no core req

http://alloemautoparts.com/
$72 ea no core, free shipping

Of course somewhere local may be more expensive initially but the convienence of getting the lifetime warranty filled makes it somewhat worthwhile.
OReillys showed:
$80 plus $5 core or $60 plus $45 core
...plus applicable sales taxes.